HOMESPUN
Taught By Al Petteway.
Level 3
Two DVD Set
These wonderful lessons by one of today's most admired fingerstyle players are
filled with invaluable insights into playing in Celtic style, from strongly syncopated
rhythm strokes to the ringing, harp-like sounds of "cross-string" picking.
You'll master the notes and chords in DADGAD, as well as standard, dropped D,
open G and low C tunings. Al explains how to play the modal scales that feature
strongly in this kind of music, which allow you to improvise within the genre,
and he provides important exercises for gaining maximum fluidity in all of your
guitar playing. You'll learn to play exquisite arrangements using droning bass
notes, slides, bends, trills and other guitar tricks to imitate the haunting
sounds of harps and pipes.
Reviews:
"Anyone interested in trying DADGAD tuning and/or Celtic style guitar playing, this two video series is a must! ... Mr. Petteway's personal technique is impressive as he makes each piece look easy and fun to play. His playing style is fluent and graceful and his compositions both emotional and inspiring to listen to. Lots of new ideas can be generated from this video for broadening your own creativity and composing skills. I was searching for a direction in my personal playing style, and thanks to Al Petteway, I think I found it!" - Guitar News Weekly
"Al Petteway is quickly building a catalogue of some of the most beautiful instrumental guitar work ever recorded." -- Dirty Linen Magazine
Student Review:"I've bought a lot of your products over the years as I play numerous instruments. The 2 DVD set by Al is probably the best one I've got. More than any other artist/instructor I've viewed, Al is a born teacher and his style is right on when it comes to getting the important part (not the fingering) of the lessons over to the viewer.... If you could get him back for an encore I know for sure I'd buy 'em!" - Jim Janssen
Lesson One: DADGAD Tuning
70-minute DVD, Includes music + tab book
Learn to play in DADGAD, the popular guitar tuning that gives many Celtic and
British Isles instrumentals their special beauty and power. Al Petteway shows
you how to play exquisite arrangements using droning bass notes, slides, bends,
trills and other guitar tricks to imitate the haunting sounds of harps and pipes.
This wonderful lesson by one of today's most admired fingerstyle players is filled with invaluable insights into playing in Celtic style, from strongly syncopated rhythm strokes to the ringing, harp-like sounds of "cross-string" picking. You'll learn to locate the notes and chords in DADGAD, and how to use the capo to utilize open strings in different keys. Al explains how to play the modal scales that feature strongly in this kind of music, which allow you to improvise within the genre, and he provides important exercises for gaining maximum fluidity in all of your guitar playing.
Best of all, you'll learn to take traditional tunes and make them unique to your own style and abilities. Al teaches five beautiful pieces from his vast repertoire including "Sligo Creek," "Rise Up My Love," "New Year's Day," "On Christmas Night" (a medley) and "Chesapeake."
Reviews:
"Anyone interested in trying DADGAD tuning and/or Celtic style guitar
playing, this two video series is a must! ... Mr. Petteway's personal technique
is impressive as he makes each piece look easy and fun to play. His playing style
is fluent and graceful and his compositions both emotional and inspiring to listen
to. Lots of new ideas can be generated from this video for broadening your own
creativity and composing skills. I was searching for a direction in my personal
playing style, and thanks to Al Petteway, I think I found it!" - Guitar
News
70-minute DVD or VHS, Includes music + tab book
Al Petteway continues his excellent lesson with five beautiful and evocative guitar instrumentals in the Celtic style. This time, he covers songs and effects that can be attained through a variety of tunings, including standard, dropped-D, open G and low C.
Al shows you how to create your own arrangements by finding the melody within the chord structure, then fleshing it out with pipe-like drone notes, chord substitutions, moving bass lines, the rhythmic "Scottish Snap" and other Celtic-sounding elements. Embellishment techniques_right hand rolls, hammers, pull-offs, etc._help you turn basic tunes into elegant guitar pieces.
You'll learn wonderful exercises for developing your right- and left-hand speed and dexterity, along with complete arrangements for five beautiful instrumentals: Fy to the Hills in the Morning (Johnny Cope), Light and Airy (a slip jig), the classic Sidh beag sidh mor, Red Haired Boy and Jock O'Hazeldean. Finally, Al pulls all the elements together with his Caledon Wood, a piece that incorporates everything he has taught on both volumes: right hand rhythm patterns, damping effects, harmonics, lyrical and percussive playing, and more.
These videos will give you invaluable insights into the music of one of the world's most accomplished fingerstyle soloists and accompanists.
"Al Petteway is quickly building a catalogue of some of the most beautiful
instrumental guitar work ever recorded." -- Dirty Linen Magazine
Guitarist Al Petteway is one of the world's most accomplished
fingerstyle soloists and accompanists. His signature sound is featured regularly
on NPR and on more than forty recordings by internationally-known artists in
the Celtic and Contemporary Folk world. His skills as an instrumentalist and
composer have won him numerous awards, including the top honors of Artist of
the Year and Musician of the Year from the Washington Area Music Association.
Al's Celtic-inspired original and traditional instrumentals can be heard on his
many solo albums from Maggie's Music as well as on the label's collaborative
effort "A Scottish Christmas."